Apparatus for producing printing plates



June 24, 1941. Ml C* TAYLR 2,246,819

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING lPRINTING PLATES Filed June 1, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l June 24, 1941. M. c. TAYLOR APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PRINTING PLATES Filed June l, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A n s mi June 24, 1941. M, Q TAYLOR 2,246,819

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING APRINTING PLATES Filed June l, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 inf/f F26 Mil a M June 24, 1941. M, TAYLOR v 2,246,819

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PRINTING PLATES Filed June l, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 24, 1941, M, c, TAYLOR 2,246,819

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PRINTING PLATES Filed June l, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z0] 114 f i Patented June 24, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PRINTING PLATES Application June 1, 1938, Serial No. 211,241

9 Claims.

This invention relates to appliances for usein conjun-ction with small portable printing machines or such as use a peripherally grooved cylinder, segmental or cylindrical bed plate for holding type, electroplates, etched rubber or other cuts for printing. l

In printing from cuts or electroplates produced from a matrix, the cut, such as rubber, is vulcanized or otherwise secured on a metallic plate of Zinc or other material, which may be tinned, or holder of a curvature to fit the segment, drum or cylinder usually adapted to revolve against the suitable inking apparatus, roller or ribbon in order to produce an impression upon the sheet to be printed, and the same are held on the drum `er bed plate by means of clamps commonly used to hold type, or by means of type groove engaging members soldered to the bottom or inside of the electroplate. It is essential that the lines of printing, or cuts, be squared across the paper `or printed sheet, 'and much difficulty has been experienced in this connection, not only because of the apparent defects in the methods heretofore practiced, but also due to the inability of properly clamping and holding the plate and the practical diinculties in getting a soldered groove engaging member line up with the type or advertising matter appearing on the cuts so that the latter will be squared across a sheet, and because such methods are impractical, cumbersome and expensive.

The present invention, therefore, has for a primary object the production of a new article of manufacture or novel plate, and method and apparatus of producing same, together with holding means therefor, whereby the ends and sides of the plate will be properly squared, and the type or advertising matter appearing on the cuts accurately lined up with the drum or cylinder grooves and the printed matter squared or properly lined up across a sheet, instead of relying upon the haphazard or guesswork method heretofore employed, such as severing the ends of the plate without squaring the same as by merely cutting the ends at right angles to the sides Without reference to the lines of type or matter on the cut mounted on the plate, or squaring said ends by guesswork and Without being sure that the same are parallel or otherwise properly arranged with respect to the type, print matter or designs `of the cuts, thus resulting in the lines of printing or cuts being distorted or extended at a tangent and therefore defective, as will be well understood by a person acquainted with the art.

Further objects are to facilitate shearing and squaring of the ends of the plate and cut, and

Wsubsequently the printing produced therefrom;

to provide a novel plate and holding means therefor in cooperation with the type receiving grooves of the drum, so that the plates and cuts will be accurately and firmly held and may be arranged in juxtaposition or abutting relation in a common groove, so that one or more of the plates bearing advertising or printed matter may be mounted upon the same drum; to provide a gauge for setting the plate and insuring that the severing or cutting of the endsi of the plate in the shearing operation performed by the apparatus or machine, will be squared with the design or printing llines of the out and parallel thereto so that when the cut is mounted on the cylinder, the lines of the printing will be parallel with the axis ofthe cylinder and with the ends of the printed sheet, and to provide novel method and means for bending or forming the ends of the plate to frictionally engage the type grooves and positively hold the plate or cut in any desired position of mounting on the cylinder or drum to facilitate such formation and also the printing throughout the production of innumerable copies.

A still further object is to provide a novel method and apparatusv for squ'aring the ends of the plate of the cut with the lines of type or other matter depicted thereon, in which the latter serve as guides or aligning means, and which uses a gauge with grooves exactly corresponding to the grooves of the segment or drum of the printing machine, and in whi-ch a section of such drulm, or cylinder may ybe so employed together with. means to hold the plate in properly gauged position for cutting and formation of holding means, which frictionally engage the type grooves or slots of the cylinder in th-e printing machine and greatly facilitates placing and removing and changing of the plates or cuts, and insures proper location thereof on the printed sheets.

A still further object is to provide novel means for shearing the ends of the plate to square the same with the printed matter and to simplify the formation of the plate for mounting and retaining the same on the cylinder or drum of the printing machine.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought-out more fully in the following specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing the appa-- ratus for performing the shearing and bending or forming operations on the plates, the same being shown in battery forni;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 3 in back of the gauging segment, the upper part of the machine being omitted;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the apparatus taken on the line 3 3 as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary central vertical sectional View taken on the line d l of Fig. 1, and showing the shearing operation completed;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of an electroplate before the same is sheared off at the ends for squaring the same;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 with one end sheared off to square the same;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a central vertical sectional view corresponding to Fig. 4 but taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 1 and showing the first step in the bending or forming operation;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the subsequent step in the forming or bending operation;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged horizontal sectional elevation taken on the line H ll of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional elevation taken on the line l2 !2 of Figs. 9 and 11;

Fig. 13 is a plan View of the bottom forming die;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary perspective View of a portion of the completed plate or product showing the manner of bending the same;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line |5 i5 of Figs. 3 and 8;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary elevation of a cylinder, segment or drum with a plate mounted thereon;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the segment of the printing machine with two plates mounted thereon in abutting relation or juxtaposition;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 10 showing a modified form of apparatus, the same being taken on the line l8 |8 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged horizontal sectional elevation corresponding to Fig. 11 and taken on the line It-I9 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a View similar to Fig. 12 being a sectional elevation taken on the lines 2U 2ll of Figs. 18 and 19;

Fig. 21 is a plan view of the lower forming die shown in Figs. 18, 19 and 20;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary perspective view of the product produced by the apparatus shown in Figs. 18 to 21, inclusive;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary elevation showing a modified form of product applied to a segment; and

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the formation of the product disclosed in Fig. 23.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 25 is a table of a frame suitably adapted to support a bed plate or base 26 having an upright standard 21 adjustably or otherwise mounted and retained thereon as by bolts 28, the top wall of the bed plate being provided, if desired, with slots 29 to permit the forward and backward adjustment of the standard 21 and the horizontal arm 30 formed at the upper end thereof and provided with a vertical bearing sleeve or guide 3l for a plunger 32 which may be reciprocated vertically in any suitable way. As illustrated, the back of the plunger is formed with a rack bar 33 engaged by a pinion 84 journaled in a bearing sleeve 35 of the arm 3B `and adapted to be turned by a hand lever 36 that is oscillated to impart up and down movement to the plunger. Obviously, however, suitable power operated means or motor may be provided for actuating the plunger 32, as will be fully appreciated by anyone acquainted with the art. In addition, removable stop pins 3'! and 38 may be provided in sockets of the plunger to limit the upward and downward movements of the plunger, such means being capable of adjustment, if desired. This means is common to both of the units constituting a battery of devices forming the apparatus or machine, as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings and, consequently, a description of one will suffice.

The machines are interchangeable but as equipped in the manner shown, the device shown at the right of Fig. 1 is equipped for shearing the ends of a plate such as disclosed at 39 in Fig. 6 of the drawings bearing an electroplate or cut 4U which may be produced from rubber or vulcanized material or otherwise secured to the face of the plate, which is of arcuate form and adapted to fit the contour of a segment or drum fil having T-grooves 42 designed to receive clips or retaining clamps for securing type to the peripheral surface of the printing cylinder in the manner heretofore practiced. It has been customary to secure the type or an electroplate on the surface of the cylinder by means of l-l-shaped retainers or T-shaped ribs soldered or otherwise secured to the concave side of the plate and across the same. However, such means have been found expensive, impractical and cumbersome and the present invention aims to overcome these disad- Vantages.

The ends 153 and 43a of the plate shown in Fig. 6 are indicated as extending at a tangent, that is, not square with the sides of the plate 39 and the out or stencil i0 mounted thereon, but more particularly, not parallel with the ends of the cut, and especially the lines 4d.' of type or advertising matter appearing upon the cut, and which must extend perfectly square across the sheet printed therefrom. The previous method employed for squaring the ends of the plates was merely haphazard and guesswork, the ends of the plate being severed off by a shearing or cutting device at right angles to the side edges. This gave no assurance that the printed matter would be squared with the sheet or that the lines of type or cut would be squared with or parallel to the type grooves of the drum since the cutting was left more or less to guesswork and no means provided to shear the ends of the plate parallel to the type lines or advertising matter appearing on the cut or stencil 46 heretofore referred to.

The method, apparatus or machine and product of the present invention are designed to overcome these diculties, and, in accordance therewith, means is provided to shear off the ends of the plate and to gauge or so position said plate as to shear said ends squarely so that the printed matter will be produced square with the sheet or lpaper subsequently printed, and the ends so` formed as to properly engage the type grooves or slots of the segment or drum of the printing machine, said `ends being so spaced apart as to accurately correspond with .the spacing of the grooves of the segment which will be spanned `by the plate when in position on the printing Inachine and being controlled or engaged by seg-z ments corresponding exactly with the segment or drum of the printing machine as well as permitting the plate to be set accurately not .only for the shearing operation, but also for the bending and forming operation to produce novel means to engage the `type grooves and for retaining the plates firmly in position when so engaged.

Referring more particularly to .the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-16, inclusive, the shearing yoperation is shown more particularly in Figs. 3 andl, while- `the bending and forming operation is shown more particularly in Figs. 8-14, inclusive. However, having more particular reference to Figs. 1, 3, 5, 8 and 15, relative to the bearing 3l or vertical yguide sleeve for the plunger 32, it should be noted that the front of the bearing or sleeve has a removable plate secured by fastening means 45 `extending through openings in the plate and `open `faced sleeve, suitable threaded openings 4S being .provided for receiving the stud bolts or screws, or other suitable fastening means 'being provided for the purpose. The bearing is provided with suitable means of lubrication and the pinion 34 is inserted at the open side of the sleeve and provided with bearings i1 on each side which receive the pivot 48 having a reduced portion. 49 and a collar 53 held by a pin or stud screw securing the parts in assembled relation. Any suitable form of mounting for the handle or lever 36 may also be provided.

The lower end of the plunger 32 lhas a. casting i removably bolted thereto through the medium of its vertical portion illustrated as shown at 52 in front elevation, as seen particularly at the right handside of Fig. l and also in Figs. 3 and 4. The bottom part 53 of the casting extends horizontally beneath the lower end of the plunger 32 .and is held by a stud bolt 54 While a hori- Zontal web or apertured flange 55 extends forwardly and entirely across the front of the unit of the battery constituting the machine or .element thereof lset up for the shearing operation. The block 53 entends, below the horizontal supporting ange 55 and provides a bottom seat 56 for shearing blade or die 51 secured therein by means of stud bolts 58 which extend horizontally through and engage threaded apertur-es in the block 53 in staggered relation to the fastening means54. The bottom or cutting edge 59 of the cutting blade or die 51 is inclined, as seen especially `in Fig. 1, and the ends thereof are protected by thedepending guide extension 60 at the ends of the block inn'spaced relation to the ends' of the blade and adapted to travel over the ends of the lower plate El, the upper edge of which is beveled in the opposite direction to the bevel 55 of the blade 51. A horizontal guide member or plate 53 is mounted on a plurality of stud bo-lts 64 passed through unthreaded apertures in the plate or flange 55, the threaded lower ends of the bolts being anchored inthe plate 63 as by engaging threaded apertures thereof, and compression springs 55 are fitted in coacting recesses in the opposed faces of the plates 55 and 53 respectively, namely the bottom face of the plate 55 and the upper face of the plate 63, as shown at66 and 61 respectively. The plate .63

fits against the Lipper blade 51 of the shearing device and is adapted to have movement `relative thereto during the shearing operation when the blade is lowered and raised with the plunger `32 manually or by power in the manner heretofore described.

The plate E3 acts as a pressure plate and has a bottom projection or rib .65 cooperating with a corresponding rib 59 at the top of -a plate 10 bolted to a block 1i as at `'l2 .and block '1l is recessed Ias at 13 to receive a transverse pressure plate 14 which projects above the top .of the vblock and receives the lower cutting blade 5I between it and .the pressure plate 1D, .the bottom wall 15 supportingthe plates .61, 1i] and 1.4 `in position, relatively. When so adjusted, the bolt 1-2 is used to clamp the blade in position. The front of the base `2,5 is recessed to receive a bed plate or block 1B having apertures. 11 registering with corresponding` apertures .of lthe block 1| to receive dowel pins .1.8 in order to properly align the. blocks, after which they are connected by stud bolts `T119.

It will be noted from Figs. 3 and 4 .that the plates 2.5 and 16` project forwardly relative to rthe `shearing blades and are designed to support a gauge in the form of a segment 8B, which is or corresponds to the half-segment of a portion .of the drum or cylinder 4l which constitutes a .part of the printing machine having the T-grooves designed to receive the type and :to hold .the plates for printing purposes.

As seen in Fig. 2, the end plates of the segment are anchored as at 8! and are held between the lower extensions 15 and the side arms or" a U.shaped gauge member 3-2 connected by a cross member 33 at the front and bottom edges of the arms, as indicated at E4. Pivots or stud bolts extend through the extensions 1.6 and the side plates of the .segment dil and pivotall-y support the U-shaped gauge 32 which may be swung in an arc over the peripheral surface .of `the segment 80 and heldin adjusted position byfrictional engagement of the hub of a wheel 8.6 threaded on the reduced .end portion 81 of .the pivot 85. A plate 83 extends transversely of the segment @il which, by reason of its construction, may be considered a calibrated gauge, .and said plate 88 is pivoted between the sides of the U- shaped member, as indicated at 8S and has its edge portion` turned inwardly to form a contact edge 90. This. plate is operable by a handle BI and `is normally held in engaging position by a spring .52, shown in the form of a flat leaf .spring secured to the bottom of the plate 38, and having its free end contacting with the top of .the connection Bd, as especially seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings so as to hold the edge Eid against the segment or the lines of type .lili impressed upon the rubber or other type plate or .stencil .4D mounted upon the plate 39.

The adjustment may be effected by swinging the U-shaped gauge member after raising the plate 88 by the handle 9.! against the action of the spring 92 after first releasing the pressure frictionally holding the gauge member by the wheel 85 and then clamping the same, after which the `gauge plate 88 is allowed to return against the spaced lines of type under the action of the spring 92, As before stated, the'` end plates of the segment 30 are held between `the extensions 15 and the arms 82 and the hand wheel 85 is, in reality, an enlarged Yflanged nut, while a nut 93 is engaged on the threaded :end of the opposite or spaced pivot for the U-shaped gauge member. rfhus, a plate 39, ,as shown in Fig. 6, in order to shear off the ends thereof squarely with the line of type, is placed upon the segment so that one of the ends 43 will project over the plate or anvil 19, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 so that said end 43 will project between the shearing blades 5l and i9. By loosening the hand wheel or nut 86, the gauge member 92 may be set in any desired position over the segment and this is done in order to bring the edge 99 against certain of the type lines 44 on the plate or cut 49 to square the plate with said lines. When this is done, the hand wheel or nut 89 is tightened to frictionally clamp the U-shaped member in adjusted position in which the type lines serve as calibrations. Of course, the handle 9| is pressed down against the stop pin 99a to raise the plate 88 and cause the edge 99 thereof to press against the cut 49 so that the plate 39 is retained in position. The handle 3S is then actuated to lower the plunger 32 and cause the upper or movable shearing blade 57 cooperating with the lower shearing blade 19 to shear oil the end of the plate 39 as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings so that said end will be parallel to the type lines. This operation is repeated on the opposite end of the plate 39, when the plate is ready to be formed for engagement with the type grooves of the segment or drum of the printing machine. However, it may be mentioned that in shearing the ends of the plate 39, the type grooves of the segment 39, inasmuch as they correspond with the grooves 92 of the segment or drum 4| of the printing machine, will be so set or calibrated that the ends of the plate 39, when formed to engage the grooves 42, will be spaced apart exactly as are the spaces between the respective grooves 42 to be engaged thereby, as shown in Fig. 16 and as will now be described.

The second unit of the machine or battery of elements, as disclosed in Fig. 1, is the same as that shown at the right hand portion of Fig. l and as heretofore described and is connected thereto by a horizontal gusset plate or web 94, which is of arcuate formation and set upon a true arc with respect to the pivots 8l as an axis. This gusset plate is provided with a slot 95 through which the adjacent arm of the U- shaped gauge member 82 is movable.

In lieu of the plate 5| and parts carrying the shearing blade and movable pressure plate and anvil 93 against said blade as described in connection with Figs. 3 and 4, a block or head 96 is mounted on the lower end of the plunger 32, being retained in position as by means of stud bolts 91. This block carries a cross head 98 retained in position by stud bolts 99 and formed at the front with parts 55a, 59a, 53a, 94a, 65a, 69a, 61a and 63a, corresponding to the parts shown and described in connection with Figs. 3 and 4 and identified by the same number except for the supplementary reference character a. The cross head 98 is recessed at the back to receive a plate 99 and at the front to receive a die plate |9| held in position by horizontal stud bolts |92 extending through corresponding apertures in the reduced portions of the cross head 98.

A spring block |93 is positioned between the plates and beneath the reduced portion of the cross head and the lower edge of the plate |9| is provided with recesses |94 accommodating the heads of stop pins |95 set in sockets in the block |93. The lower edge of the plate |00 is CTI provided with recesses |96 and the block |93 with sockets |91 receiving compression springs |98 engaging guide pins |99 at the back. Ihese guide pins are carried by lugs ||9 projecting upwardly from a horizontally movable die plate which operates beneath and against the aligned lower edges of the plates |99 and |9| and the block |93. The forward and top edge of the die plate is provided with a series of recesses H2 and this plate is movable upon a supporting plate or block ||3 carried upon the bed plate of the machine. The forward edge of the block H3 is recessed as at ||4 to receive a die block H5, which is held in position by stud bolts ||6 and the upper edge thereof is formed with an inward projection or rib and said edge is designed to receive the advertising plate 39 after the ends have been sheared oi in the manner previously described and as shown in Fig. '7 of the drawings.

A segment 89a corresponding to the segment 99, previously described, is mounted at the front in horizontal alignment with the segment 99 and with the grooves thereof in alignment so that after the plate is sheared 01T, it may be simply moved across the gusset plate or web 94 onto the gauge member produced by the segment 89a and will be maintained in the same position relative to the forming dies, as it was with respect to the shearing dies or blades. Also, any suitable means may be provided on the segment 39a to gauge and hold the plate 39 in any desired or adjusted position. Incidentally, it may be noted that the pins also serve as stop pins for the plate 39 when disposed in position over the forming die H5, as clearly shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings when the die |0| is elevated by actuating handle 36 to raise the plunger. By actuating the handle in the opposite direction, the plunger is lowered to cause the die itil to engage the projecting edge of the plate 39, which initially is in rectilinear form, although the plate is curved later to t the periphery of the segment. This will cause said edge to be directed downwardly as indicated at ||8 in Fig. 9 of the drawings, being bent against and below the rib Ill.

The die Hl is then adapted to be actuated to move it forwardly against the bent portion ||8 and, by reason of the recesses H2, certain portions of the lbent portion H8 will be bent or curved inwardly, as shown at H9 and the intermediate portions will be formed into tongues directed downwardly so as to properly and frictionally engage the walls of the grooves 42 of the printing machine segment in the manner clearly disclosed in Figs. 16 and 17 of the drawings and thereby hold the printing plate in accurate position on the segment or drum of the printing machine for the purposes heretofore explained.

In order to move the die forwardly from its rearward position shown in Fig. 9 to the forming position shown in Fig. 10 against the action of the springs |99, a substantially U-shaped frame i 29 is provided at the back of the machine somewhat corresponding to the frame at the front, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1l. This frame has its side portions mounted in recesses I?! in the supporting plate or block ||3 and provides journals for a transverse shaft |22 provided with cams |23 designed to engage the vertical rear portions or lugs H9 of the die plate ill. These parts are retained in position by stud bolts i129 and the shaft is adapted to be turned by a handle |25 or other suitable manual or power operated means tooscillate the shaft and cams for moving the die III into a projected or retracted position assisted by the springs |||8`` When both ends of the printing plate have been formed in the manner described and particularly `as `shown in the resultant product disclosed in Fig. le of the drawings, the printing plate may be slid into the grooves of the segment or drum of the printing machine, as shown in Fig. 16, and this will insure that the printed matter will be absolutely squared on the sheet. Thus, a dual function is served in that the shearing insures the formation of the ends of the printing plate to properly engage the drum grooves and the squaring thereof with the printed matter, while the bending provides means for engaging the grooves of the drum so that this relation will be insured in the printed product. Of course, when one end of the printing plate has been formed, the plate is merely reversed in position and moved edgewise to cause the engagement of the bent portions ||8 and ||9 with the proper groove of the segment 80a so that the opposite unbent edge of the plate will contact with the stop pins or gauge members |05 as is done in the initial bending operation. It may also be mentioned that the sides of the U-shaped member |20, which support the ends of the shaft |22, also serve as guide means for the die block IiI, and the vertically movable plates and It I, as will be clearly apparent from Figs. l1 and 12 of the drawings.

In Figs. 19 to 22 of the drawings, a modification is shown in which the structure is the same as that shown and described in connection with Figs. 1 and 8 to 1li, inclusive, except that instead of moving the die III forwardly to produce the inwardly bent tongues I I9, the `die is moved rearwardly to form outwardly bent tongues |26. For this purpose, the die |21 corresponding to the die I I I is normally held forwardly by springs |23 set in recesses |29 in the block II3 and act against lugs or ribs |36). The top forward portion of the die |21 is provided with a recess |3| forming ribs or lugs |32 against which the portion II 8 is bent and the shaft |22 is provided with eccentrics |33 pivotally connected by links |34 or other articulated connectionwith apertured lugs |35 at the rear edge of the die |21. Thus, by actuating the handle |25, the die |21 is moved rearwardly against the action of the springs |28 to cause the ends of the plate to be bent in the manner shown in Fig. 22 of the drawings. These bent portions IIB and |25 engage the grooves of the printing cylinder or drum in the manner shown in Fig. 23, the portions I2 being directed outwardly instead of inwardly to engage .beneath the adjacent T-members forming the grooves of the cylinder to frictionally hold the printing plate in position instead of beneath the T-members engaged by the portions IIB as shown in Fig. 17. Otherwise, the construction is substantially the same as that already described. It may also be mentioned that while the handles or levers 36 are mounted at the right hand side of each unit of the machine or apparatus, the handle or lever |25 is conveniently mounted at the left hand side so as to greatly facilitate the operation, especially in view of the fact that the hand wheel or nut 86 is at the right hand side corresponding to the position of the handle t thereabove and, therefore, facilitates movement in unison in clamping the printed plate and in shearing off the ends of the same.

In Fig. 24 of the drawings, a fragmentary part of the machine is shown for producing a slightly modified formation at the ends of the printing plate in which, after the end is bent down as at IIB, a portion of said downwardly bent end is directed horizontally or outwardly as indicated at |36 and upwardly at an acute angle slightly less than a right angle with the portion I i8. In this instance, the die |31 has the bottom edge formed with a series of upwardly and rearwardly inclined recesses |38 and the bottom die |39 is raised at corresponding rib portions |40 to correspond with the recesses |38, which are stamped up to frictionally engage beneath the T-members of the grooves of the drum by forming one continuous member instead of being severed as between the portions |I8 and |26 in the manner shown and described in connection with Figs. 18 to 21, inclusive, and the product formed thereby, as shown in Fig. 22. It is also to be understood that in each instance, the shearing step is employed prior to the formation of the ends and that these `steps can be successively carried out with accuracy and dispatch, thereby greatly simplifying the production and reducing the cost of the manufacture of the printing plate over the cumbersome and expensive methods heretofore in vogue and absolutely insure that the various objects heretofore pointed out will be effected.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a forming machine of the class described, coacting dies and an anvil, the dies and anvil being designed to receive the work therebetween, a curved gauge member positioned to receive the work thereon at its periphery and comprising an arcuate supporting portion, a U-shaped member enveloping said gauge, means for clamping said U-shaped member in different angular positions over the arcuate portion, and means carried by said U-shaped member to set against the printing matter of a plate to cause the coacting dies and an Yanvil of the machine to act on the plate parallel to the printed matter thereon.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame, a gauge member on the frame, an anvil, a vertically reciprocating upper die formed to coact with the anvil and bend down the edges of a printing plate in parallel relation to type matter thereon, and a forwardly and rearwardly movable lower die member cooperating withthe anvil to form the bent down edge into straight and angulated tongues with portions extending normal thereto whereby the tongues at opposite ends of the plate are disposed in opposite directions.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame, a gauge member on the frame, an anvil, a vertically reciprocating upper die formed to co-act with the anvil and bend down the edges of a printing plate in parallel relation to type matter thereon, a horizontally slidable lower die member cooperating with the anvil to form the bent down edge into straight and angulated tongues with portions extending normal relative thereto whereby the tongues at opposite ends of the plate are disposed in opposite directions, said die member being cushioned and held in one direction, means forming a stop for one end of the plate and means for actuating the lower die member.

4. In a forming machine for producing curved printing plates for printing machines using a peripherally grooved cylinder, forming means designed to receive the work therebetween, a gauge member positioned to receive the work thereon at its periphery and comprising an arcuate supporting member having peripheral longitudinal grooves, a U-shaped member enveloping said gauge and including forwardly extending spaced parallel arms, and a horizontal transverse bar disposed in spaced parallel relation to the arcuate supporting member to support a curved printing plate thereon, means for clamping said U- shaped member in dilferent angular positions over the arcuate supporting member and means carried by said U-shaped member to act as a gauging member in connection With printed matter on the arcuate plate for setting the plate in a position in which the forming means will act on the plate parallel to the type or print matter on the plate and normal to the plate.

5. In an apparatus for producing curved printing plates for mimeograph machines, a frame, a convex arcuate gauge member on the frame and disposed on an arc of a true circle, an anvil, a vertically reciprocating upper die formed to bend the ends of a printing plate in parallel relation to type matter thereon, a horizontally movable lower die member cooperating with the anvil to produce tongues in parallel relation to the type matter and formed with portions to bend said tongues substantially at right angles in opposite directions at opposite ends of the plate, said die member being cushioned and held in one direction, means forming a stop for one end of the plate, and means for actuating the lower die member.

6. The combination with a metal treating machine of the class described having co-acting die members, a substantially semi-cylindrical gauge member having spaced parallel longitudinal grooves in its periphery for receiving tongues bent from a curved printing plate and constituting a holding means therefor during the treating operation, a U-shaped member pivotally mounted to swing over the gauge member, means to hold the U-shaped member in adjusted position and a gauge plate pivoted to the U-shaped member and having an inwardly directed edge portion normally held toward the gauge member to contact one end of the printing plate, lines of type or print matter thereon to square the tongues with the ends of the printing plate and print matter or lines of type on the plate or cut thereof.

'7. An apparatus for producing arcuate printing plates comprising spaced metal sheet treating members and spaced gauging elements located beneath said members, said gauging elements having type grooves in horizontal registry and projecting laterally thereof respectively whereby the plates may be slid from one element to the other free of resetting and while maintaining the ends of the plates parallel to the printed matter thereon.

8. An apparatus for producing arcuate printing plates comprising spaced metal treating and forming members, a gauging element having a plurality of spaced segments located beneath said members and connected by a depressed gusset plate of corresponding arcuate segmental formation and set upon a true arc with respect to the axes of the segments whereby a printing plate may be slid from one segment to the other in either direction for positioning the same beneath the treating and forming members or removed laterally therefrom, a U-shaped gauge swingable over the peripheral surface of each segment and frictional means to hold the gauges in adjusted position.

9. An apparatus for producing arcuate printing plates comprising spaced metal treating and forming members, spaced gauging elements located beneath said members, said gauging elements having type grooves in horizontal registry and projecting laterally thereof respectively whereby the plates may be slid from one element to the other free of resetting and While maintaining the ends of the plates parallel to the printed matter thereon, a U-shaped gauge swingable over the peripheral surface of each element and frictional means to hold the gauges in adjusted position.

MLTON C. TAYLOR. 

